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New Service Aims to Reduce Child Care Suspensions, Expulsions of Children with Special Needs

February 13 2023

A new prevention-based, consultative service at Child Care Council Inc. will help ensure children with disabilities have access to quality child care. Child Care Council’s special needs consultation service will equip caregivers with strategies and supports to reduce suspension and expulsion for young children with disabilities in child care. Built on relationship-based practices, the service […]

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    Good News for Parents and Child Care

    Good News for Parents and Child Care

    August 30, 2022

    Good news for child care! Governor Kathy Hochul today, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, launched a statewide multi-media campaign to help ensure eligible families access child care assistance. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-launches-statewide-campaign-highlight-funding-child-care-providers-and

    Child Care Subsidy Funding Available

    April 4, 2022

    The Workforce Development Institute’s Child Care Subsidy Facilitated Enrollment Program is providing funding for income-eligible families who reside in Monroe County and work a minimum of 25 hours per week.

    Download the brochure with more information.

    Refugees Can Get Assistance Starting Their Own Family Child Care Businesses, Through Federal Grant Program

    February 28, 2022

    Child Care Council and Urban League of Rochester partnering on local effort

    Child Care Council Inc. and Urban League of Rochester, N.Y. Inc. are teaming up to help local refugees become more self-sufficient by launching and operating family child care businesses.

    Grant funding from the federal Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development program is designed to enable refugees who have experience caring for small children to use their child care skills to earn an income. It also helps refugees who care for their own young children, allowing them to work in their homes as it is a significant challenge to work outside of their homes.

    Child Care Council is one of only nine programs across the country to receive this federal grant funding, which totals $174,310.00 annually for three years. Urban League of Rochester will assist the Council in identifying potential grantees in the city of Rochester.

    “Through this program, people who have recently come to the U.S. will not only be able to provide for their own families, but they also have the opportunity to attain the American dream of opening their own business,” said Jeff Pier, CEO, Child Care Council. “Child Care Council is excited to partner with Urban League of Rochester on this project, which will create new child care programs that help strengthen the community and make up for some of the programs that were forced to closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    Chantz B. Miles, division director of business development, Urban League of Rochester, said, “The business development division at the Urban League of Rochester (ULR) is excited to have this partnership with Child Care Council. The hurdles that providers have to jump through to sustain their businesses are both intimidating and difficult. This partnership between Child Care Council and the Urban League of Rochester will help our child care providers sustain, strengthen and grow their businesses. ULR is committed and dedicated to being a key role player in building and sustaining our child care provider businesses here in Monroe County.”

    To be eligible for the program, refugees currently living in Monroe, Livingston or Wayne counties must have lived in the U.S. for less than five years and be interested in starting a family child care business. Child Care Council will provide training in child care and business skills, as well as assistance with applying for a child care license. Eligible individuals also will receive a cash stipend of up to $3,000 for business supplies and materials.

    Refugees eligible for the program can contact Osman Hussein, Child Care Council’s multicultural support specialist, by email at [email protected].

    Grant Funding to Address “Child Care Deserts” in the Finger Lakes Region

    February 2, 2022

    Funding will support new child care programs or expanding child care businesses
    that help alleviate care shortages

    New and existing child care businesses in the Finger Lakes region will have an opportunity to access grant funding to help address “child care deserts” – areas in the region with child care shortages.

    Child Care Council Inc. is working with three other child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&Rs) to partner with New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to offer federal grant funding to new licensed, registered or permitted child care programs in areas of the state with low supply. OCFS is making $70 million in grant funding available statewide to new licensed, registered or permitted child care programs. These funds are part of a $100 million child care initiative approved in the 2021 Enacted Budget through the American Rescue Plan Act.

    The grants will support new child care providers in creating their child care program and in recruiting, retaining and training staff to meet workforce demands. Grant recipients can also use the funding to support start-up expenses, personnel costs, general child care business expenses and staff expenses in accessing COVID-19 vaccines. Additional details on eligibility and requirements of the grant can be found in the Request for Applications at https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/funding/#RFA1.

    Grant applications will be accepted beginning April 11, 2022, and the application deadline is May 19, 2022. Interested child care businesses must apply on the OCFS website at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/deserts/. Applicants must request an application for license before grant application submission. All applicants must complete the OCFS or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene online orientation before applying at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers/cdc-orientation.php. Once completing the orientation, applicants can request a licensing application.

    Applicants needing assistance with starting child care programs can contact their county’s OCFS Regional Office (https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/regional-offices.php) or their local child care resource and referral agency, which can help with the licensing process. Regional CCR&R offices are:

    • Child Care Council Inc., serving Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties – childcarecouncil.com
    • Chemung County Child Care Council Inc. – chemchildcare.com
    • Child and Family Resources Inc., serving Ontario, Seneca, and Yates counties – cfresources.org
    • Pro Action Child Care Council – proactioninc.org/cca

    Jeff Pier, Child Care Council CEO, said, “Child Care Council is pleased to partner with New York state to address child care shortages in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties. There was a care shortage in our urban and rural communities before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic simply made the crisis worse. This funding opportunity will help fill the gap for families that don’t have access to child care, while also helping new child care businesses get up and running and enabling existing providers to expand.”

    Ruth A. Harvey, executive director, Chemung County Child Care Council Inc., said, “In Chemung County, we see a continued need for additional quality child care slots for children of working families, especially infant and toddler care. This funding presents the chance for expansion in current programs as well as the opportunity for new programs to help meet the demand. New York state’s vision for the expansion of quality child care slots across the entire state will benefit many children and families.”

    Julie Champion, executive director, Child and Family Resources Inc., said, “We have had an ongoing need for additional quality child care slots for children of working families in Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties, especially in more rural areas. The need is even greater for infant and toddler care. New Child Care Desert funding provides an opportunity for new child care programs and an expansion of slots in existing child care programs. Working families, children, our communities – and New York –needs this investment.”

    Margie Lawlor, director, Pro Action Child Care Council, said, “Parts of our region lack sufficient child care options for all ages, and the entire region lacks sufficient child care options for infants and toddlers. This Child Care Desert funding is a great opportunity for local providers to open or expand. With this investment, we can begin to address the child care shortages that hold parents back from fully participating in the workforce.”

    Attention Employers: Introducing Vroom

    September 3, 2021
    • Vroom is an exciting national program that supports healthy child brain development.
    • It shows parents how they can turn activities like bath time and mealtime into opportunities that build their children’s brains.
    • Child Care Council is offering several ways for you to help, such as participating in virtual lunch-and-learn events, including program information in your internal newsletters, and sharing resources with your employees.

    To learn more about this free resource, contact Renee Scholz, Child Care Council, at: 585.654.1286 or email us at [email protected].

    Visit the Vroom website or view a sample Vroom tip.

    Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

    January 8, 2021

    Register for this event today!

    NYS Child Care Advocacy Tuesdays 2021

    December 15, 2020
        NYS Early Childhood Advocacy   Next year, early childhood advocacy will be more necessary than ever to protect New York’s young children and families from budget cuts to programs they depend on – especially those crucial to Black and Brown communities disproportionately harmed by the ongoing pandemic.   While the State Capitol may not be open to us, this virtual event will be an opportunity for those who would not normally be able to travel to Albany to make their voices heard. Anyone who believes that New York State should invest in its youngest children is invited to join.   Please join us for our 2021 Virtual Early Childhood Advocacy Days!     Kickoff and Virtual Press Conference February 2 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm   Legislative Meetings: February 9 & 16   Agenda and Meeting Information to Come   Register Now!   Español   Space on the kickoff call is limited so register early!   It is very important that each attendee registers by January 20th. This will help us schedule meetings and ensure that everyone has the information they need. For group registrationsemail Katie as soon as possible.     For additional materials, please visit: EmpireStateChildCare.org WinningBeginningNY.org   Join us and Share Your Story!       NYS Early Childhood Advocacy     Registration closes Tuesday, January 20    

    Welcome Back!

    August 11, 2020

    Dear providers,

    I hope this email finds you well. I would also like to thank you for your commitment and perseverance in the last few months. Child Care Council is happy to announce we are starting to open to the community again. In September we are starting our classes, also we will start to see people in person for appointments. Classes will be scheduled and controlled and appointments will be limited and spaced out to ensure social distancing. I have attached a few guidelines for when you come into the building. Child Care Council will not allow anyone into the building unless they have an appointment and following protocol guidelines. As with all things these guidelines will be modified as things change with the virus. We will keep you posted on any changes.

    Child Care Council is determined to get back to seeing each of you. To do this we need to ensure your safety and the safety of our staff.

    If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 585-654-4727. 

    Hope to see you all soon.

    Sincerely,

    Jeff Pier

    Federal CARES Act Funding Available for Child Care Providers

    June 26, 2020

    Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $65 million in federal CARES Act funding is available for child care providers statewide through the New York Forward Child Care Expansion Incentive program.

    The funding available includes:
    • $20 million to assist childcare program with reopening and expansion of capacity by providing materials to support a more socially distant model, and for supplies and activities associated with reopening and expansion. This may include partitions, short term rental of space, etc.

    • $45 million in childcare Reopening and Expansion Incentive funds to pay for 50% of the cost of a newly opened classroom (maximum grant amount of $6,000) as an incentivize to open the classroom. The temporary funds will phase out over the second and third months as more parents bring their children back into childcare.

    New York Forward Child Care Expansion Incentive and Temporary Operating Assistance Applications

    • The first attachment (OCFS 5450) is the application for licensed/registered child care programs
    • The second attachment (OCFS 5451) is the application for legally exempt programs
    • Both of these documents are posted on the OCFS website

    Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on July 15, 2020.

    Guidance Documents for Child Care

    June 10, 2020

    The Child Care Council, Inc. would like to share these important guidance documents created and circulated by the Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control.  If we all do our part and follow these guidelines and safety requirements we will help mitigate the spread of COVID19 and other illnesses and communicable diseases.

    “INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR CHILD CARE AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY”:  Lists recommendations and requirements based on DOH & CDC guidelines.  Also includes an AFFIRMATION page you need to sign off on stating you have read and understand the NYS guidance. https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Child_Care_Daycamps_Detailed_Guidelines.pdf

    “Reopening New York, Child Care and Day Camp Program Guidelines” – This is a summary page of all of the CDC and DOH guidelines that are Mandatory VS Best Practice.  Very easy to read and understand. https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/2020/COVID-2020Jun08-Day-Camp-Summary.pdf

    “NY FORWARD SAFETY PLAN TEMPLATE” – All programs of every modality are required to complete and fill out a SAFETY PLAN for their program.  This does not need to be approved by your local or state registration or licensing agency.  However, it needs to be posted in your program. https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/2020/COVID-2020Jun08-Guidance-Reopening-Plan-Template.pdf

    All programs are also required to post DOH/CDC COVID19 signage around their program space as per the guidance below:

    • Responsible Parties must post signs throughout the site, consistent with DOH COVID-19 signage. Responsible Parties can develop their own customized signage specific to their workplace or setting, provided that such signage is consistent with the Department’s signage. Signage should be used to remind individuals to:

    o Cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering.

    o Properly store and, when necessary, discard PPE.

    o Adhere to physical distancing instructions.

    o Report symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19, and how they should do so.

    o Follow hand hygiene and cleaning and disinfection guidelines.

    o Follow appropriate respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

    Here is a link to the CDC website where you can find and print appropriate signage to place around your program space:

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

    Also reminding you that you must keep a “DEEP CLEANING” log to document and record how you are cleaning and disinfecting effectively throughout the course of the day.  This should include sanitizing and disinfecting frequently used surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, countertops, play areas, and the bathroom.

    OCFS did not come up with these rules, these are EXECUTIVE ORDERS from the GOVERNOR of NY and they must be followed.  All providers are required to wear face coverings at all times they are caring for children.  Refusal to follow these rules would be placing others at risk and your program out of compliance. 

    Thank you for your continued efforts and support throughout this challenging time

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